Intravenous catheter insertion device with retractable needle

• US 5,407,431 A
• Filed: 09/27/1993
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Med-Design Corporation (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Halseth, Thor, Botich, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maglione, Corrine
• Application Number:
  US08/127,962
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/192, 604/194, 604/195, 604/197, 604/198, 604/220, 604/226, 604/240, 604/164
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150648 fully automatically triggered, i.e. the triggering of the protective sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user such as terminating the contact with the patient's skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150732 Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube,
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3231 Proximal end of needle captured or embedded inside piston head, e.g. by friction or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3235 triggered by radial deflection of the anchoring parts between needle mount and syringe barrel or needle housing, e.g. spreading of needle mount retaining hooks having slanted surfaces by engagement with correspondingly shaped surfaces on the piston at the end of an injection stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3241 Needle retraction energy is accumulated inside of a hollow plunger rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3234 Fully automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5013 Means for blocking the piston or the fluid passageway to prevent illegal refilling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/508 : Means for preventing re-use by disrupting the piston seal, e.g. by puncturing

Abstract

A hypodermic injection system (7) with a retractable needle (9) wherein the needle (9) retracts within an interior cavity of a syringe plunger (59), such that the needle (9) is confinedly held within the plunger (59). A cylindrical spring housing assembly (21) has resilient fingers (23) which captures a spring (15) biasly holding a needle holder (11) against the retaining force of resilient fingers (23). The plunger (59) has a frangible end (65), which dissociates when the outwardly tapered shoulders (68) spread the resilient fingers (23), allowing the coiled spring (15) to eject the needle (9) and its holder (11) into the interior cavity (71) of the plunger (59). A body fluid sampling embodiment employs the same functional elements except the plunger (59") is shorter and contains a linking (137) that communicates with a vacuum container (147). The container allows fluid sampling and provides the structure to release the spring (15 ") retracting the needle (9"). The retractable needle embodiment is also employed with an insertion needle (9'"'"'") that guides a catheter tube (154) below the skin of a patient and into the vein, and allows retraction of the insertion needle (9'"'"'") thereby avoiding accidental pricking of the health care worker by the insertion needle (9'"'"'").

Claims

1. An intravenous catheter insertion device for inserting a catheter sleeve with associated hub for providing medicinals to a patient comprising:

(a) an insertion needle sized to be received concentrically within the catheter sleeve for insertion of said catheter sleeve along with said insertion needle below a patient'"'"'s skin;

(b) a barrel adapted to receive a plunger;

(c) a plunger, including an interior cavity and a frangible end adjacent thereto, said plunger sized to be received within and slide through said barrel; and

(d) a spring housing means associated with and attachable to said barrel, for holding said insertion needle and selectively retracting said insertion needle into said interior cavity of said plunger when said plunger abuts against a surface within said barrel and moves beyond a portion of said barrel, causing breakage of said frangible end, and allowing said frangible end of said plunger to separate, wherein said spring housing means comprises;

a holder for holding said insertion needle; and

a spring means for exerting an expansive force between an end of said holder and said spring housing means, wherein said spring housing means selectively holds said holder and said spring means therebetween, while allowing said insertion needle to extend from said spring housing means in an assembled condition, wherein said spring housing means has extending resilient finger with interior and inferiorally positioned hooks to retain said end of said holder in an assembled condition wherein said frangible end of said plunger has an engaging and complementing surface which abuts up against said hooks of said extending resilient fingers, spreading said extending resilient fingers radially outwardly to release said end of said holder against the expansive force of said spring means when said plunger moves beyond said portion of said barrel, and wherein said spring housing means is attachable to said barrel and lockable thereto, preventing removal of said spring housing means from said barrel.

2. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 1 wherein said frangible end of said plunger separates when a predetermined normal force is exerted between said frangible end of said plunger and said holder.

3. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 2 wherein said frangible end of said plunger spreads said extending resilient fingers radially outwardly upon depression of said plunger past a predetermined point within said barrel prior to exertion of said predetermined normal force allowing said frangible end to disassociate and said spring means to propel said holder and insertion needle into said cavity of said plunger.

4. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 1 wherein said spring housing means operatively associates with an end of said barrel.

5. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 4 wherein said interior cavity of said plunger is evacuated prior to the separation of said frangible end from said plunger.

6. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 1 further comprising ratchet means for engaging said plunger within said barrel, preventing separation of said plunger from said barrel after said plunger is depressed within said barrel, a first portion of said ratchet means coupled to said plunger and a second portion of said ratchet means coupled to said barrel.

7. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 6 wherein said spring housing means includes an external circumferential groove and wherein an end of said barrel includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth sized to receive said groove and allow secure engagement between said spring housing means when associated with said end by positioning said groove into said end of said barrel, thereby securing said spring housing means to said barrel.

8. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 7 wherein said spring housing means includes external extending tabs and wherein said end of said barrel includes longitudinal slots sized to receive said extending tabs thereby insuring proper alignment of said insertion needle when said spring housing means is engaged with said barrel.

9. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 8 wherein said holder is a highly visible color and wherein said plunger and said barrel are made of a translucent or transparent material to allow viewing said holder when injected to said plunger through said barrel.

10. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 9, wherein a forward portion of said spring housing means includes an external engagement groove for engagement with a needle cap.

11. An intravenous catheter insertion device for inserting a catheter sleeve with associated hub for providing medicinals to a patient comprising:

(a) an insertion needle sized to be received concentrically within the catheter sleeve for insertion of said catheter sleeve along with said insertion needle below a patient'"'"'s skin;

(b) a barrel adapted to receive a plunger;

(c) a plunger, including an interior cavity, said plunger sized to be received within and slide through said barrel; and

(d) a spring housing means associated with and attachable to said barrel, for holding said insertion needle and selectively retracting said insertion needle into said interior cavity of said plunger when said plunger abuts against a surface within said barrel and moves beyond a portion of said barrel, wherein said spring housing means comprises;

a holder for holding said insertion needle; and

a spring means for exerting an expansive force between an end of said holder and said spring housing means, wherein said spring housing means selectively holds said holder and said spring means therebetween, while allowing said insertion needle to extend from said spring housing means in an assembled condition, wherein said spring housing means has extending resilient fingers with interior and inferiorally positioned hooks to retain said end of said holder in an assembled condition wherein an end of said plunger has an engaging and complementing surface which abuts up against said hooks of said extending resilient fingers, spreading said extending resilient fingers radially outwardly to release said end of said holder against the expansive force of said spring means when said plunger moves beyond said portion of said barrel, and wherein said spring housing means is attachable to said barrel and lockable thereto, preventing removal of said spring housing means from said barrel.

12. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 11 wherein said end of said plunger spreads said extending resilient fingers radially outwardly upon depression of said plunger past said predetermined point within said barrel prior to exertion of said predetermined normal force allowing said spring means to propel said holder and insertion needle into said cavity of said plunger.

13. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 11 wherein said spring housing means operatively associates with an end of said barrel.

14. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 11 further comprising ratchet means for engaging said plunger within said barrel, preventing separation of said plunger from said barrel after said plunger is depressed within said barrel, a first portion of said ratchet means coupled to said plunger and a second portion of said ratchet means coupled to said barrel.

15. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 14 wherein said spring housing means includes an external circumferential groove and wherein an end of said barrel includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, said ratchet teeth sized to receive said groove and allow secure engagement between said spring housing means when associated with said end by positioning said groove into said end of said barrel, thereby securing said spring housing means to said barrel.

16. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 15 wherein said spring housing means includes external extending tabs and wherein said end of said barrel includes longitudinal slots sized to receive said extending tabs thereby insuring proper alignment of said insertion needle when said spring housing means is engaged with said barrel.

17. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 16 wherein said holder is a highly visible color and wherein said plunger and said barrel are made of a translucent or transparent material to allow viewing said holder when injected to said plunger through said barrel.

18. The intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 17, wherein a forward portion of said spring housing means includes an external engagement groove for engagement with the needle cap.

19. A retractable needle system comprising:

(a) barrel means for providing a fluid reservoir;

(b) plunger means for expelling a fluid in said fluid reservoir, said plunger means defining an interior cavity and slidably and snugly fitting within said barrel means;

(c) catheter sleeve means for providing intravenous fluid access, said catheter sleeve means having a flexible shaft adapted to receive an insertion needle having a holder end; and

(d) spring holding means for releasably holding a spring between said spring holding means and a holder end of an insertion needle, said spring holding means having resilient fingers with interior and inferiorly positioned hooks engageable by said plunger means, said spring holding means coupled to said barrel means and releasing said spring after said plunger means reaches said spring holding means, whereby said spring urges a holder end of an insertion needle into said interior cavity.

20. An intravenous catheter insertion device comprising a captured needle received concentrically within a catheter sleeve for insertion of said catheter sleeve along with said insertion needle below a patient'"'"'s skin, a spring loaded needle means for holding and ejecting sole captured needle, barrel means connectable to said spring loaded needle means on one end, and a plunger means having a hollow portion, said plunger means positionable within and movable through said barrel means, said plunger means having a breakable end adjacent said hollow portion which breaks free from one end of said plunger means and allows said captured needle to be ejected into said hollow portion of said plunger means within said barrel means, wherein said spring loaded needle means has a housing with resilient fingers on one end, which can be spread radially outward by said one end of said plunger means in contact therewith to release said captured needle from said housing, wherein said breakable end of said plunger means breaks allowing said captured needle to be propelled out of said housing and into said hollow portion of said plunger means and be retained therein, wherein said breakable end of said plunger means includes tapered shoulders which engage oppositely and complementing shoulders of said resilient fingers, allowing forward movement of said plunger means to spread said resilient fingers radially outward, said intravenous catheter insertion device further comprising an extending tab and a receiving slot associated between an exterior of said plunger means and the interior of said barrel means, said extending tab and said receiving slot oriented to lock together when said tab and said slot are brought into alignment with each other within said barrel means, thereby locking said plunger means within said barrel means.

21. An intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 20 wherein said plunger means and said barrel means are substantially transparent, said captured needle having a distinctive appearance to be readily seen through said plunger means and said barrel means once ejected into said plunger means.

22. An intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 21 wherein said plunger means includes an evacuated chamber to extract fluid from said spring loaded needle means upon the disassociation of said breakable end of said plunger means.

23. A retractable needle system comprising:

(a) a catheter sleeve having a flexible shaft with an axial passageway to concentrically receive an insertion needle having a rigid shaft, said rigid shaft having a sharp end and a holder defining an end;

(b) a spring housing having an exterior surface, resilient legs spreadable radially outward on a first end, said spring housing having exteriorly located attachment groove, an opening on a second end of said spring housing to receive said shaft of said insertion needle in sealing engagement while retaining said holder, said resilient legs having radially inwardly positioned hooks sized to engage and hold said end of said holder of said insertion needle when said shaft of said insertion needle is forwardly positioned within said spring housing, said hooks having inwardly tapered shoulders;

(c) a coiled spring means positioned axially within said spring housing between said holder and said second end of said spring housing, said spring means exerting a repulsive force between said holder of said insertion needle and said second end of said spring housing less than the retaining force exerted by said hooks of said resilient legs, thereby retaining said insertion needle within said spring housing against said repulsive force of said spring means;

(d) barrel means for engaging and holding said spring housing, said barrel means including a plurality of ratchet teeth and positioned within an interior of said barrel means to receive said extending groove of said spring housing in locking engagement, said interior of said barrel means shaped sufficient to engage said spring housing and allow said resilient legs to flex radially outward; and

(e) a plunger sized to be received concentrically within said barrel means, said plunger having a hollow axially located chamber therein, and having a dissociable end and outwardly tapered shoulders adjacent to said dissociable end, wherein said dissociable end dissociates from said plunger and is ejected into said chamber when said outward tapered shoulders forcible engage said inwardly tapered shoulders of said hooks of said resilient legs, spreading said resilient legs outwardly and disengaging said hooks from said end of said holder of said insertion needle, thereby allowing said dissociable end to dissociated under a predetermined normal force between said holder of said insertion needle and said dissociable end, and allowing said coiled spring means to eject said insertion needle from said spring housing into said chamber within said plunger.

24. An intravenous catheter insertion device comprising a captured needle received concentrically within a catheter sleeve for insertion of said catheter sleeve along with said insertion needle below a patient'"'"'s skin, a spring loaded needle means for holding and ejecting sole captured needle, barrel means connectable to said spring loaded needle means on one end, and a plunger means having a hollow portion, said plunger means positionable within and movable through said barrel means, said plunger means having an aperture end adjacent said hollow portion of said plunger means and allows said captured needle to be ejected into said hollow portion of said plunger means within said barrel means, wherein said spring loaded needle means has a housing with resilient fingers on one end, which can be spread radially outward by said one end of said plunger means in contact therewith to release said captured needle from said housing allowing said captured needle to be propelled out of said housing through said aperture end of said plunger means and into said hollow portion of said plunger means and be retained therein, wherein said aperture end of said plunger means includes tapered shoulders which engage oppositely and complementing shoulders of said resilient fingers, allowing forward movement of said plunger means to spread said resilient fingers radially outward, said intravenous catheter insertion device further comprising an extending tab and a receiving slot associated between an exterior of said plunger means and the interior of said barrel means, said extending tab and said receiving slot oriented to lock together when said tab and said slot are brought into alignment with each other within said barrel means, thereby locking said plunger means within said barrel means.

25. An intravenous catheter insertion device as specified in claim 24 wherein said plunger means and said barrel means are substantially transparent, said captured needle having a distinctive appearance to be readily seen through said plunger means and said barrel means once ejected into said plunger means.